Automobile theft alarm



- Aug. .16, `1927. H' SHARP 1,639,314 l' I AUTOMOBILE Tum' ALARM Filed Janjs, 1925 s sheets-sheen l," fof AuTouoILE THEFT-ALARM Filed Jams, 1925 Aug. .16, *1927.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. SHARP y AUTOMOBILE THEFT ALARM Filed Jan. e, 1925 s sheets-sheet 3 Aug. 16, 1927.

A d x1 l .l (a 73 445 2J Y. l 33 66 a 4 @Aki/a 36 37 Mfr/725565,' .I

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

narran sir-Aras- JOHN H., sHAnr, oir CHICAGO, ILLINois.

AUTOMOBILE 'rHnFT- ALARM.

Application filed January My inventioirbelongs to" that general class vor devices-.known as alarms, and relates-more lparticularly to an audible alarm for use on automobiles or like vehicles, and which. is

automatically operative upon and during-` unauthorized useHof the automobile. The" present invention is inY the nature oan i-mproveiiientonthe device showni-nA my Paten-t- No. 1450336, granted April 3 1923; The invention has amongvits objects thefpr0- duction of' an alarm ofthe kind' described that is exceedingly simple, comp-act, durable, convenient, eificient andA satisfactory-for use Wherever fou-nd applicable, and ivhich is operative regardless4V Whether the automobile ismovedf forward orY backward. More par,-v ticularly it has as an object thel production of a device of a size that may be fitted in the brake drumA of an automobile, and' yetsol constructed that a comparatively large,

powerful gong. may be employed which myi be heard [for considerable distances, and Which is of suchA a type that the unauthore izedfuserrwill be stopped and arrested for using a gong` simulating police,` fire or ainbulance equipment, or a'bi'rrglar alarmgong with which public is alreadyy familiar and the sounding of which immediately acquaints every one in hearing distance of' the L theit.

size will fit practically everymachine now-` on thev market. It may be applied Without requiring the drilling of holes or any pary v The brake drum includes the `flange 9 articular litting. It may be applied i`n any repair shop, garage, service sta-tion, or vby a car owner himself, by using, a jack, aV

wrench, and possiblyv av liaiiimer. Many other Yobjects and advantages of:` the con.- struction herein shown Aandl described will be obvious Vto those skilled inthe' art from the disclosures herein given. y

To this end .f my invention/consists inthe novel construction, arrangement and'combr- The ownerA of the car is not affected-V ,because he does not drive the car with ther 8, 1925. Serial No. 1,307'.

nation of parts herein shown and:v described,

olifthe' brake mechanism., the Wheel and brake drum removed;

Fig.y 3 is a sectionall view taken substantially on line 3-:31 through. the brakemechanism; y

Fig. l is a view taken substantially on lino4 4 4. oli 3, showing the mechanism on the'bralie drum carried by the Wheel;

Fig. 5 isv a sectional' vietv taken substanti ally on line e'of Fig. 2;' l

Fig. 6i i's a sectionalview tialily on line of'A Fig. l;

7'is af' sectional veWV tiallly on line 777 or? Fig. 25;

Fig-.f8 is a sectional view tiallyvon linef8-8 ot'Fig.. 2; I

Eigr 9 is a sectional: view taken substanv tially on lilne 9-f'9 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 1101 is a sectional v-ieWgt-ak'en on line 'iov-[io Off Eig. a w

Referring' to the drawings, in.l which the preferred embodiment of`v my invention; is shown, it maybe "nientioned-f'that I have not endeavoredto show. iin detailV the automobile ,vconstructiom nor the' complete brake mech-l anism.

Referring particularly to Figs; l, 2' and 3, l represents the axle'housing, Q'the Wheelv taken substanhub from which extends the. spokes 3,'the

spolfesbeing secured in place in the usual: Y

mannerv betweeny the hub.` flange 4 and the brake drum 51,' 61 being the usual hub bolts. I have shownV also the hub cap 7 which is mounted on the hub 2 and encloses theend` ofv the aXl'crS, onr which the Wheel is. suit.- ably secured in any of thefivell-knovvn Ways.

andcontrol mechanisms being omitted.

ranged'vr on 'the axle housing l -is the enclosingplate 11` which-covers the internalen-V Y panding brake mechanism. l have notcon- .f

' therewith.

sidered it necessary to show any of the axle bearings. kind the axle housing (see Fig. 2) containing the axle bearings is split at a desired point, as for example at 12, the same being provided with a clamping bolt 13. The internal expanding band 10 is suitably mounted in the drum, the same, together with its operating mechanism, being usually carried by the plate 11 or the equivalent. The mechanism which I have described in the preceding is more or less standard on all types of automobiles, with the possible exception of variations in proportions of the parts or the like.

My improved mechanism comprises a stationary gong and striking mechanism preferably carried by the axle housing, together with a controlling and'actuating mechanism which is carried by the wheel and which cannot be tampered with to render it inoperative when set for operation. Of course, the locking mechanism itself may be varied, only the preferred arrangement being illustrated. l

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, 16 represents a gong member provided with an opening 16 through which the axle housing 1 projects. The gong member may be made of any suitable material and constructed to give the desired tone. As illustrated, it is arranged to lit within the internal brake mechanism and does not interfere The same may, to some extent, vary in contour for different cars, but I prefer to make the same substantially as shown with one side straight as indicated at 17 and the other side formed as indicated at 17', this construction making the same applicable for practically any of the automobiles on the market. rllhe same is mounted on the axle housing by means of a bracket 18 secured under the head 19 of the bolt 13 previously referred to and extending1 as indicated at 20-21 and 22. The bracketv and gong are secured together by the lugs 23 or equivalent means for the purpose. By so mounting the gong with the looped back bracket as shown, its vibration or sound is not aifected, even with the large opening` 16 at the center, the tone being` clear and strong. This opening should be large enough so that the same clears the axle housing entirely about the same. Arranged at the opposite end of the bolt 13 is a bracket 25 which is formed withv an extending portion 26 which is clamped between the'nut and the axle housing as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This bracket carries a striking arm 27 provided with a hammer or head portion 28 and pivotally secured at 29 to the bracket. As shown, the striker arm has an extending portion 30, towhich is connected a spring 31 liav ing one end secured as .indicated at 32.

Usually in connections of this,

Bracket 25 also carries trip arm 33 which is pivotally secured at 34 to the bracket in any suitable manner. The member 33 is provided with the extending portion 35l 36, and isV substantially a trip. As constructed, the portions 3536 are arranged to engage a cooperating part or cam member hereinafter described carried by the wheel and operative when the vehicle is going in either direction, and which causes the ringing of the gong when the parts are set for alarm, but not otherwise.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the parti` i is reinforced by the flange 37. Part 33 is normally maintained in the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 2 by means ofa spring` 41 which is shown secured at one end to the lug 42 and at the other end to the pin 32, it being understood that any equiva- Arranged When 35-36 is depressed, as indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, it raises the opposite end, and the pawl or dog 46 engages v with the pin 50, raising the arm 27 until the pin slips off the end of the dog, at which time the spring 31 raises the end 30, bringing the gong striker 23 into action on the gong. TWhen 35-36 returns to normal position shown in the full lines, the dog can yield about its pivot 45, thereby permitting the parts to return to normal positions. As shown, pin 51 on part 33 cooperating with pin 52 limits the upward movement of 33. I prefer to provide a spring 53 onf27, which, engaging with the sleeve 43, tends to partially retrieve the striker and prevent it remaining in engagement with the gong andl thereby mufliing the same.

Arranged on the brake drum plate 5 is a member 59. In the preferred construction, a plate 54 is secured on the drum by means of one of the'wheel bolts 6 anda nut 57 at one end and a tubular bolt 56 and nut 57 replacing one of the bolts 6 at the opposite end. ,The plate is preferably slotted as indicated at 55 and 58 so that regardless of the variation in the spacing of the bolts on different cars the device may be applied and adjusted. As shown, member 59 is pivotally secured at 60'to the plate. A spring 61 vsecured at 62 on the arm and at 63on the.

plate tends to normally draw the arm in the position shownin the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Y An arm 64 carried by a bolt 65 extending through the tubular lbolt 56 carries a 'member v'66.-' The `member 59 is provided with the notches 67 and A68 and is arranged to cooperate thereat with `66. The member 59 car-ries al pin or a cam `lug 70 or thefequivalent arranged to periodically cooperate with S35-36 when lthe arm 59 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and the wheel turned. When the arm 64 is moved to the position shown in the dotted lines, member 59 moves up so that the pin or engaging member 70 is brought to a position to engage on 35 or on 36 and depress 315-36 and move 33. Arm 64 is controlled by suitable locking means which may be of any desired type, that shown being adapted to lock the movement of the bolt 65. A stop 69 may be provided for 59, in case the bolt 56 and nut 57 are removed by an intended thief. i

A simple and yet eicient type of plate tumbler lock is shown in which the bolt is provided with a slotted barrel 7l carrying late tumblers 72 arranged to engage in the head 7 0 of the tubular bolt, the head being slotted or grooved at opposite sides as indicated at 73. A part or cap 74 may be arranged on the end of the head 70 and secured against removal by a pin 75 or the equivalent. Ordinarily the pin 7 5 is not needed. I have shown the key 76 in dotted lines, and when the key is inserted, then the tumblers 72 are withdrawn into the barrel 7l so that the barrel can be turned-by means of the key 76 shown in the dotted lines in'Fig. 6, thereby turning the bolt 65 and actuating arm 64. lVhen the key is withdrawn, the tumblers prevent actuation of th-e bolt. When the key is withdrawn, the part 59 is locked in the dotted position (see Fig. 4). However, it should be noted that should the lock mechanism at the outside of the wheel be knocked off, this would not in any way affect the device as it would be necessary to turn 65 and manipulate the arm 64 before the device could be released.

In operation, when the key is inserted and 64 turned as shown in the full lines in Fig. 4, part 70 or cam member is out of engaging position, and consequently turning the wheel does not bring the same into engagement with 35-2-56. Then the same is brought to the other position, however, turning the wheel inl -either direction rocks member 33 on its support, thereby raising the striker arm 27 as described to the point where it is released, at which time it strikes the gong and then rebounds slightly. Continual rotation of the wheel in either direction causes the continued intermittent striking of the OIlO- C Obviously, the attention of any one hearing the gong would be attracted, and the owner of the car, if within hearing, will be notified. If an officer sees the car moving' along the street and hears its gong being periodically struck, he will stop the sameandV arrest the driver for usi-ng a gong similar to the -iifre department, police depar-tment er an ambulance. Alarms emp'loy-inga gongelectrically operated are recognized as burglar alarms 'by the public. After a period of time and people become more accustomed to the device, oflicers and citizens will both immediately realize that the car is being stolen or used without authorization. It will be noted that this construction does not prevent the car from being moved in case of lire or for other reasons, although attention is attracted to such moving. The device prevents garage yemployees, children and others from using the car.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various i immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departingV from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I vclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a vehicle, a frame, a wheel, a brake drum constrained to rotate with the wheel, an expanding brake band engageable with said drum, a gong disposed within the brake band, means for mounting said gong upon said frame, a clapper, means for pivotallyV mounting` said clapper upon said frame, a lever pivotally mounted upon said frame, a pawl pivotally mounted upon said lever and engageable with said clapper, a second lever constrained to rotate bodily with said'drum and pivotally mounted with respect thereto, a pin carried by said second lever and movable therewith into a position wherein it will engage the first lever when the vehicle is in motion, and means for locking said'second lever in said position.

2. In a vehicle, a wheel, a brake drum con-V strained to rotate with the wheel, a brake band engageable with said drum, a shaft for said wheel, a. housing for the shaft, a gong disposed within the brake band, means for mounting said gong upon-said housing, a clapper, means for pivotally mounting said clapper upon said housing, a lever pivotallyy mounted upon said housing, a paw] pivotally mounted upon said lever and engageable with said clapper, a second lever constrained to rotate bodily with said drum and pivotally mounted'with respect thereto, a pin carriedvl by said second lever and movable therewith into a position wherein it will engage the first lever when the vehicle is in motion, and a lock carried by the wheel and accessisaid second lever in said position. l

3, In a vehicle, a wheel, a brake drum con- 'ble from the outer side thereof for securing strained to rotate with the Wheel, a brake wheel and accessible from the outer side hand engageable with said drum, a shaft for thereof for looking said last-mentioned said Wheel, a housing for the Shat, a gong means in a position wherein it can not Cause 10 disposed within the brake drum7 means for the dapper to strike the gong- Y mounting said gong upon said housing, a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto dapper, means for causing said clapper to signed my name. strike said gong, and a lock carried by said JOHN H. SHARP, 

